UCSM Division of Religion & Philosophy

Philosophy and Society
BA (Hons)

Available: Lancaster
Available as Single Honours, Major, Joint, Minor or Third Subject
Also available as DipHE subject
For further information, contact: Lancaster 01524 384200/300/400

Philosophy and Society studies the questions that philosophy asks about human society - questions about morality, social justice, freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of life. What questions could be more important?

Philosophy involves thinking hard, clearly, critically, rigorously, analytically, questioningly and logically.

Philosophy thus develops reasoning, communication, problem-solving and other skills that employers seek.

The course studies social, moral and political philosophy. It is taught by well-qualified staff, who provide a caring and supportive environment.

YEAR 1

In Year 1 you take three pairs of modules, normally from three subjects (although some subjects offer an additional pair of modules that can be taken instead of a third subject).

Philosophy and Society students take:

PHI 101 Critical Thinking and the Problems of Philosophy

An introduction to some of the key problems in philosophy, such as epistemology, the mind/body problem, free will and determinism, the existence of God, and the relationship between morality and religion. It also introduces some of the basic forms of argument.
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ETH 102 Ethics in Modern Western Society

Following on from the introduction to key problems in philosophy in general, this modules focuses on social philosophy. It introduces major ethical theories (relativism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, contractualism, feminism, Rawlsianism), ethical concepts (rights, social justice, equality), and ethical problems (nonhuman animals, the natural environment).

Year 1 assessment: 50% coursework, 50% exam.

YEAR 2

Year 2 assessment is at least 75% coursework.

Core modules

PHI 201 The History of Social Philosophy

Human beings have long reflected on the nature of human society. Do we need to live together, or do we simply choose to, and if so, why? And how do we decide which are the better and which the worse ways to live communally? This course looks at a sample of answers to these questions taken from the history of western thought.

PHI 202 Moral Philosophy

Building on the Year 1 modules, this module will develop your knowledge of central questions and theories in contemporary moral philosophy. It will look at theories such as utilitarianism and Kantianism in more depth as well as introducing some new concepts and perspectives.

Optional modules

You choose from the following modules (subject to availability):

ETH 202 Visions of Utopia

The desire to depict the ideal society has often manifested itself in western literature. This course examines a number of examples of the utopian genre spanning over two thousand years and considers how successful they have been in articulating a credible vision of a better world.

ETH 208 Medical Ethics

Difficult cases in medical ethics are always in the news: Should a terminally-ill woman be allowed to die? Should a couple be permitted to have a genetically selected child in order to help treat an existing child? In this module we look at real ethical issues using a range of theoretical tools, initially focusing on the professional/patient relationship, examining problems such as confidentiality, truth telling, informed consent, resource allocation, and medical research. The module then focuses on the beginning and end of life, examining abortion, surrogate motherhood, infertility treatment, genetics, euthanasia, organ transplantation, and criteria of death.

ETH 209 Business Ethics

Does business have social responsibility? If so, what are the responsibilities of business with respect to employees, consumers, investors, the environment, and in international business?

ETH 210 War and Peace

War is a persistent human phenomenon, while peace is a widespread human aspiration. This course primarily focuses on moral issues raised by war in the modern world (such as whether it can ever be justifiable to use nuclear weapons) while also examining some of the prescriptions for peace.

YEAR 3

Year 3 assessment is at least 75%, and up to 100%, coursework.

Core modules

ETH 306 Freedom and Equality: Ideas of the Just Society

This module studies the main theories of social justice in contemporary political philosophy: utilitarianism, egalitarian liberalism, and libertarianism. It thus builds on the Year 2 core modules, by studying leading contemporary utilitarian, Kantian, Lockean and Marxian social philosophers. The module studies the theories' principles of social justice, the arguments for and against those principles, and their institutional and policy implications.

ETH 307 Ideas of the Just Society: Continuing Debates

Building on the first Year 3 core module, which studies general theories of social justice in contemporary political philosophy, this module considers some current specific problems and debates in the theory of social justice: Attempts to reconcile self-ownership and equality; the 'equality of what?' debate; designs for a just economic system; social justice and personal conduct; liberal democracy and religious pluralism; international political justice; global economic justice.

Optional modules

You choose from the following modules (subject to availability):

ETH 301 Western Ethical Traditions

This course examines the moral philosophies of a selection of western thinkers from Socrates to Sartre. It seeks both to understand them in their historical contexts and to consider the extent to which their views are still relevant and influential today.

RET 303 Death and Dying

It has been said that death is not something we experience in life. Nevertheless, death continues to fascinate and in this module we explore and reflect upon a diverse range of issues. Some of these are ethical and philosophical: we consider the Epicurean claim that it is not rational to fear death and we look at the ethical issues relating to euthanasia, organ transplantation and abortion. We also look at the evidence for 'life after death' through an exploration of such phenomena as reincarnation and the near-death experience.

ETH 305 Who Am I? Philosophical Issues

Human Beings have minds and they have bodies. This is a straightforward observation, but one that has continued to perplex philosophers throughout the centuries. We look at some of the problems that have interested philosophers in this area, perhaps the most fundamental of these being the question of the relationship between mind and body: are these two very different things, and if so, how do we explain their apparent interaction? In addition we consider questions of personal identity and the problem of free will and determinism

ETH 309 Environmental Ethics

Concern for the environment has been a significant development in recent decades. This course examines some of the important philosophical issues that have emerged from this concern, such as the moral status of the natural world and our responsibilities to future generations.

ETH 312 & 313 Independent Study/ Dissertation

An independently researched Independent Study (Year 2 or Year 3) or Independent Dissertation (double module, Year 3 only), with tutorial supervision, on a topic of your choice (subject to approval).

PHI 101	Critical Thinking and the Problems of Philosophy
An introduction to some of the key problems in philosophy, such as epistemology, the mind/body problem, free will and determinism, the existence of God, and the relationship between morality and religion. It also introduces some of the basic forms of argument.

ETH 102	Ethics in Modern Western Society
Following on from the introduction to key problems in philosophy in general, this modules focuses on social philosophy. It introduces major ethical theories (relativism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, contractualism, feminism, Rawlsianism), ethical concepts (rights, social justice, equality), and ethical problems (nonhuman animals, the natural environment).

PHI 201	The History of Social Philosophy
Human beings have long reflected on the nature of human society. Do we need to live together, or do we simply choose to, and if so, why? And how do we decide which are the better and which the worse ways to live communally? This course looks at a sample of answers to these questions taken from the history of western thought.
PHI 202	Moral Philosophy
Building on the Year 1 modules, this module will develop your knowledge of central questions and theories in contemporary moral philosophy. It will look at theories such as utilitarianism and Kantianism in more depth as well as introducing some new concepts and perspectives.

ETH 202	Visions of Utopia
The desire to depict the ideal society has often manifested itself in western literature. This course examines a number of examples of the utopian genre spanning over two thousand years and considers how successful they have been in articulating a credible vision of a better world.
ETH 208	Medical Ethics
Difficult cases in medical ethics are always in the news: Should a terminally-ill woman be allowed to die? Should a couple be permitted to have a genetically selected child in order to help treat an existing child? In this module we look at real ethical issues using a range of theoretical tools, initially focusing on the professional/patient relationship, examining problems such as confidentiality, truth telling, informed consent, resource allocation, and medical research. The module then focuses on the beginning and end of life, examining abortion, surrogate motherhood, infertility treatment, genetics, euthanasia, organ transplantation, and criteria of death.
ETH 209	Business Ethics
Does business have social responsibility? If so, what are the responsibilities of business with respect to employees, consumers, investors, the environment, and in international business?
ETH 210	War and Peace
War is a persistent human phenomenon, while peace is a widespread human aspiration. This course primarily focuses on moral issues raised by war in the modern world (such as whether it can ever be justifiable to use nuclear weapons) while also examining some of the prescriptions for peace.

ETH 306	Freedom and Equality: Ideas of the Just Society
This module studies the main theories of social justice in contemporary political philosophy: utilitarianism, egalitarian liberalism, and libertarianism. It thus builds on the Year 2 core modules, by studying leading contemporary utilitarian, Kantian, Lockean and Marxian social philosophers. The module studies the theories' principles of social justice, the arguments for and against those principles, and their institutional and policy implications.
ETH 307	Ideas of the Just Society: Continuing Debates
Building on the first Year 3 core module, which studies general theories of social justice in contemporary political philosophy, this module considers some current specific problems and debates in the theory of social justice: Attempts to reconcile self-ownership and equality; the 'equality of what?' debate; designs for a just economic system; social justice and personal conduct; liberal democracy and religious pluralism; international political justice; global economic justice.

ETH 301	Western Ethical Traditions
This course examines the moral philosophies of a selection of western thinkers from Socrates to Sartre. It seeks both to understand them in their historical contexts and to consider the extent to which their views are still relevant and influential today.
RET 303	Death and Dying
It has been said that death is not something we experience in life. Nevertheless, death continues to fascinate and in this module we explore and reflect upon a diverse range of issues. Some of these are ethical and philosophical: we consider the Epicurean claim that it is not rational to fear death and we look at the ethical issues relating to euthanasia, organ transplantation and abortion. We also look at the evidence for 'life after death' through an exploration of such phenomena as reincarnation and the near-death experience.
ETH 305	Who Am I? Philosophical Issues
Human Beings have minds and they have bodies. This is a straightforward observation, but one that has continued to perplex philosophers throughout the centuries. We look at some of the problems that have interested philosophers in this area, perhaps the most fundamental of these being the question of the relationship between mind and body: are these two very different things, and if so, how do we explain their apparent interaction? In addition we consider questions of personal identity and the problem of free will and determinism
ETH 309	Environmental Ethics
Concern for the environment has been a significant development in recent decades. This course examines some of the important philosophical issues that have emerged from this concern, such as the moral status of the natural world and our responsibilities to future generations.
ETH 312 & 313	Independent Study/ Dissertation
An independently researched Independent Study (Year 2 or Year 3) or Independent Dissertation (double module, Year 3 only), with tutorial supervision, on a topic of your choice (subject to approval).